Also, feel free to join in our discussions with any questions you have. Often our discussions will trigger a thought or a question that you want to know about, or maybe you just need some clarification on something. Don't be shy, feel free to join in - it's one of the best ways to learn from this website.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.

Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

The thing you have to realize is that nobody is constantky watching you or monitoring you. They are triggered by critical events. In a crash it may help to see what the driver was doing. More than anything the cameras are used to coach at risk drivers so they can improve their performance.

You can put "driver facing camera" in the search bar at the top of this page and find some lively discussions on the subject. It is a subject which is full of misunderstandings.

The thing you have to realize is that nobody is constantky watching you or monitoring you. They are triggered by critical events. In a crash it may help to see what the driver was doing. More than anything the cameras are used to coach at risk drivers so they can improve their performance.

You can put "driver facing camera" in the search bar at the top of this page and find some lively discussions on the subject. It is a subject which is full of misunderstandings.

Great! Thanks for the input, Old School. I will check out that article! =)
Thanks again to everyone who posts and contributes - this forum is absolutely invaluable!

As someone who will begin school in February, with a company that uses interior facing cameras, I feel that I hope to be doing everything safely so I don't feel I need to worry about if/when it is recording. Everything I have read is that it only records when it is triggered by an "event", I have always been a "by-the-book" kind of guy so the prospect of being watched if they do have the ability to turn the cameras on when they want won't bother me anyway.

Are driver-facing cameras common? I feel like they'd be a distraction (make you self-conscious and constantly thinking about them?)
Would be interested to hear others' takes on this!

I drove with one for a year and I didn't mind it. After a while you forget it's there. Every now and then I would look up and see that it was recording due to uncontrollable events such as marked lanes being screwy in construction zones or being cut off by a driver and said driver immediately slows down in front of me(not a hard braking event but a following distance event). I might have had a conversation with the camera during those instances but I never heard anything from safety. I did hear of drivers being routed to terminals to review some recordings and some fired for what was recorded(such as using a cell phone without the use of a hands free device).

The driver facing camera is a deal breaker to some and others simply do not care. All I can tell you is that from my personal experience with it, I was both physically and emotionally unaffected by its presence.

Terminal:

A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.

CFI is going to be installing forward facing cameras very soon. We were told that these will only record under certain conditions and said we are still free to have our own. Also a personal dash cam is always on and is better for CYA. The cameras CFI will be putting in will have a driver facing option. They will use those for people who require more training. That would mean you are not driving safely. As far as I'm concerned, as long as it doesn't block my view, I don't care.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

Just as locks keep honest people honest, I think the camera will just reinforce good driving habits (when your cellphone beeps and you want to reach for it to see that message, you will hopefully reconsider).

I just saw a driver all over the road today and when I got up beside him to pass (when he was far enough back in his lane) he had one hand on the wheel, and was staring at the phone in his other. In the distance of about a mile and a half, he first waited too long to get into the left lane for a left lane exit and crossed at the last possible second using the shoulder and narrowly missing where the dirt began at the V. It had been a clear lane change for the exit about 1/4 mile prior to his abrupt lane change, though he did signal as he started over the solid white lines. He rode that shoulder through most of the transition (696 to M-14). Crossed over the left hand on-ramp lines onto M-14, got into the right lane about half way down the hill and ran over to the rumble strips, back over the center line, then back into his lane...for the most part. I assumed he was freaked out from almost missing the exit, but can't imagine that someone freaked out would continue to screw with their cellphone in that circumstance.

That is an instance where maybe the camera would make him pay attention to the road and driving.

Cameras or people with cameras are everywhere nowadays, and the only time people tend to worry about them is when they know they are doing something wrong or dangerous. Just like seeing that trooper sitting in the median...if you're not speeding, then you have no problem with passing him because you know you're in the right and he has cameras and technology to prove your case for you as well if he does try to screw with you.

Over The Road:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Join Us!

We have an awesome set of tools that will help you understand the trucking industry and prepare for a great start to your trucking career. Not only that, but everything we offer here at TruckingTruth is 100% free - no strings attached! Sign up now and get instant access to our member's section:

Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth

Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:

About Us

TruckingTruth was founded by Brett Aquila (that's me!), a 15 year truck driving veteran, in January 2007. After 15 years on the road I wanted to help people understand the trucking industry and everything that came with the career and lifestyle of an over the road trucker. We'll help you make the right choices and prepare for a great start to your trucking career.

Becoming A Truck Driver

Becoming A Truck Driver is a dream we've all pondered at some point in our lives. We've all wondered if the adventure and challenges of life on the open road would suit us better than the ordinary day to day lives we've always known. At TruckingTruth we'll help you decide if trucking is right for you and help you get your career off to a great start.